INFORMATION SOUGHT IN
FORD HEIGHTS ARSONS

Saturday, November 16, 2013
—Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart is seeking information from the public regarding two arsons and an attempted arson that have occurred in Ford Heights in a week’s time.

The first fire, ruled to be an attempted arson, occurred at approximately 5 a.m. in the 1300 block of East Lincoln Highway. Debris was found burning outside in the back of the store and there were flames coming from the roof. Firefighters responded and extinguished the fire. There was no structural damage, but there was a strong odor of gasoline present inside the building.

The second fire occurred in an abandoned residence in the 1500 block of Senator Lane at approximately 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 9. The residence was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived. The fire spread to a neighboring home, burning its roof.

The third fire occurred at a convenience store in the 1400 block of 13th Place at approximately 12:50 a.m. on Nov. 12. The fire was determined to have started near a window on the left side of the building.

Footage from the store’s security camera showed an unknown type of car pulling up to the building shortly before the fire. Then someone gets out of the vehicle’s passenger side and places something near or in the window where the fire started, gets back in the car and drives off, northbound on Woodlawn Avenue. A few minutes later, two people dressed in dark clothing walk to the area near the window at which time the fire started. The two individuals then run away, northbound on Woodlawn Avenue and then turn east on 13th Place.

All three cases remain under investigation. At this time, it cannot be determined if any of these incidents are related. Sheriff Dart asks anyone with information to call the Sheriff’s Police Investigations Section at 708-865-4896.